Online Resource for Career Placement Staff

Supporting Students with Disabilities on Work Placement Programmes: Online learning resource for staff in higher education.

This free online resource, developed by AHEAD, aims to provide those who facilitate a work placement component with the knowledge and practical know-how in supporting students with a range of disabilities undertaking a work placement as part of their course. This resource is based on the knowledge and learning that has emerged from AHEAD’s WAM Placement Programme.

Target Audience

This online resource may be useful for those who are in any way involved in facilitating work placements in higher education, this includes;

Placement officers or co-ordinators

Faculty staff who have a role in facilitating placements

Staff from student support services

Learning Outcomes

By completion of this online resource:

Participants will have knowledge of disability in general, what constitutes a disability against the existing legislative framework and how to interact with students with disabilities within their higher education institution.

Participants will gain an understanding of how to engage with employers promoting the case for diversity.

Participants will explore the various stages in the needs assessment process and gain an understanding of the importance of a needs assessment in identifying workplace supports and accommodations required to support a student with a disability undertaking a college related work placement.

Participants will examine approaches to managing disability and disclosure in their placement programmes.

Participants will be provided with a sample evaluation checklist for students and employers upon completion and a checklist in developing guidelines.

Participants will also have access to resources, guides, tools and templates to support their work with students with a disability throughout.

Duration of Resource

All five modules take approximately 20 minutes each to complete. Participants can complete one module at a time if they wish and access the resources at any stage.

How to access the Online Learning Resource

Send an email with your full name, job title and the name of your HEI to ahead@ahead.ie. You’ll then be provided with a personal, secure login username and password.